Dissemblable float

ABSTRACT

A dissemblable float is described comprising detachable side walls connected to form an enclosure in which are placed a plurality of float members. Each float member has an upper rib connected to a pair of opposing side walls. The rib is attached to a light-weight material, such as a block of cellular polystyrene. Detachable cover portions complete the platform.

United States Patent 1191 Related U.S. Application Data Boyajian 1 Oct.29, 1974 DISSEMBLABLE FLOAT 3,289,621 12/1966 Sebring 114 .5 [76] I ntoC a e oy jia 1 nce St" 3,616,774 11/1971 Thompson 1 14/.5

Saugus, Mass. 01906 Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Bhx Flled: July 1973Assistant ExaminerStuart M. Goldstein .[211 Appl 3 2 9 Attorney, Agent,or FirmJ0seph Zallen 5 7 ABSTRACT [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 144,766,May 19, 1971,

abandoned- A dissemblable float is described comprising detachable sidewalls connected to form an enclosure in [52] U.S. CI. which are placed ap i y of float members. Each [51] hit. Cl B631) 35/09 float member hasan uppr rib connected to a pair of Fleld of Search R, F, BD, pp g iwalls. The is attached to a 61/48 weight material, such as a block ofcellular polysty- References Cited 311};- Detachable cover portionscomplete the plat- UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,036,539 5/1962 Storey 114/.56 Glam, 6 D'awmg Flglres 0 T 9 b 11 I6 500 16 DISSEMBLABLE FLOAT This isa continuation of my co-pending patent application of the same title,Ser. No. l44,766, filed May 19, 1971, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to a float. In particularit relates to a float, which can be easily assembled or disassembled.

Floats are used in lakes, rivers and similar bodies of water to enablepeople to have water deep enough for swimming and diving, and yetaccessible to a place for resting or sun bathing. Floats are oftenequipped with diving boards, and also ladders to assist the swimmers inclimbing onto the float.

Conventional floats are generally bulky, heavy, and permanentinstallations subject to the problems of ice damage in the northernclimate. Some floats have been proposed in the past, which purport to bedissemblable, so that they can be removed from the water for the winterseason. However, such dissemblable floats as have hitherto beendescribed, are generally heavy, difficult to handle, and bulky in theirdissembled state.

One object of the present invention is to provide a float which can bereadily assembled or disassembled very rapidly without tools.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a float which can bereadily assembled or disassembled by a singular person.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a float which islight in weight and which stores compactly in dissembled form.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thedescription and claims which follow, taken together with the appendeddrawings.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention comprises generally a float composedof a compact group of readily assembled components. One group ofcomponents comprises side walls, as for example four side walls whichcan be made of wood or similar strong floatable material. These sidewalls are connected to one another at their ends to form an enclosurewhich floats in the water. The connection is made by having mating hingeportions, which are held together after alignment by a removablehinge-pin. This form of attachment device is preferred, but otherattachment devices, as for example, latches, hooks and the like, can beused.

After the enclosure is formed. floating in the water. a plurality offloat members are then positioned within the enclosure. usuallyoccupying most of the space within the enclosure. The float members arepreferably uniform in size and shape. Each float member consistsessentially of a mass of light weight, cellular, waterresistant,generally rigid material, such as cellular polystyrene. Attached to thetop surface of the mass is a long rib, generally in the form of a woodenboard. This upper rib or board extends between two opposing side wallsand is attached to these walls by similar hinge attaching means, asdescribed above.

The upper long rib of the float member can be attached to the mass bysuitable adhesive. It also can be attached by mechanical means. In thelatter case, it is preferable to have a corresponding bottom rib so thata bolt can be used and not fracture the cellular polystyrene mass, whichusually has low strength. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings,transverse upper boards are also included for strengthening.

After the float members have been inserted and attached to theenclosure, the main body of the float is completed by attaching a coverportion which generally includes several sections. The cover portionacts as the platform for the float and can be composed of a number ofsections, each attached to opposing side walls and also preferably toone another.

Accessories, such as a diving board and ladder. can be attached by meansof brackets or similar mounts on a part of the cover portion or sidewalls to which the diving board or ladder can be detachably connected.

A float made in accordance with this invention can be readily handled bya singular person without assistance and can also be readily dissembled.No tools are required.

It should be noted that in common with all other floats, some means ofanchoring or weighting is used with the float in order to keep it in itsdesired location. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways known tothose skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the outerwall alone of one example of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view with partial cutaway of the wall of FIG. 1with three float members in position.

FIG. 3 is a section along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the entire assembled float.

FIG. 5 is a section along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partial right side elevation of FIG. 4.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, the frame11 of the float comprises side walls l2, l3, l4 and 15 detachablyconnected to each other at their ends by means of a pair of mating hingeportions and removable pin 16 to form an enclosure. Into the enclosureis placed float group 20 comprising float members 25, 30 and 35. Each ofthe float members is of similar size and construction and positioned ina similar manner within the enclosure. Thus float member 25 has alongitudinal board 25a, and transverse boards 25c resting on a block ofcellular polystyrene 25d. The boards are held together on the block anda lower board by means of vertical bolts 25b. The upper board 25a restson the side walls 12 and 13 while the polystyrene block 25d rests withinthe enclosure. The longitudinal board 25a is attached by similar hingeand removable pin portions to side walls 12 and 13.

In a similar fashion float 30 has upper longitudinal board 30a, bolts30b, transverse boards 30c, cellular polystyrene block 30d and lowerboard 30a.

In a similar fashion float member 35 (illustrated in cross section inFIG. 3) has upper longitudinal board 35a, transverse boards 35c, bolts35b, cellular polystyrene block 35d, lower longitudinal board 35c andhinge-pin sections 35f and 35g.

After the float members have been inserted and attached to the sidewalls, the cover portions 36 and 38 are laid on the boards and attachedby hinge and removable pin assemblies 37 and 29 to walls 14 and 15. Theinner edges of the cover portions are likewise detachably connected toone another by similar hinge and removable pins 37 and 39.

After the cover portions have been attached, accessories can beattached. Thus, for example, the diving board 40 comprises a boardportion 40a, which is detachably connected by hinge-pin sections 400 and400 to short supports 40b and 40d. These short support sections can bepermanently mounted on cover portion 38 or readily attached by bolts40b, 40d and nuts 40b" and 40d".

Ladder 45 comprises curved rails 45e and 45f with steps 45g. The ends ofthe rails are connected to a block 45a by bolts 45c, which in turn isconnected by hinge-pin assembly 45d to block 46. Block 46 can bepermanently mounted on cover portion 38 or it can be easily assembled bymeans of bolt 46a. One of the steps 45g is detachably connected to sidewall 12 by pin and hinge assembly 45h.

It should be noted in all the above references to hinge and pinassemblies, one portion of the hinge is mounted on one member, a secondor mating portion of the hinge is mounted on a second member and whenthe hinges are brought together in mating position, a pin is insertedwhich holds them in this position. Removal of the pin permits themembers to be readily detached.

One eye bolt 50 is attached with nut 50a to each of the side walls l2,l3, l4 and 15. These eye bolts serve as means for attaching linesleading to an anchor or weight.

I claim:

1. A dissemblable float comprising:

a. side walls (l2, l3, l4 and 15)detachably connected to each other attheir ends by mating hinge portions and removable pins (16) to form anenclosure; and

b. a plurality of float members located within said enclosure (25) eachmember comprising a block of light weight, cellular, water-resistant,generally rigid plastic (25d) extending within and between two opposingside walls. each member further having spaced transverse boards (25c)resting thereon and supporting a longitudinal board (25a) whose endsrest on the side walls and are detachably connected thereto by matinghinge portions and removable pins.

2. The float of claim 1 wherein said plastic is cellular polystyrene.

3. The float of claim 1 wherein there is a cover portion readilydetachably connected to said walls.

4. the float of claim 1 wherein the float member has a longitudinal ribon the under side of the cellular material.

5. The float of claim 1 wherein said side walls are made of wood.

6. The float of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal board is made of wood.

1. A dissemblable float comprising: a. side walls (12, 13, 14 and 15)detachably connected to each other at their ends by mating hingeportions and removable pins (16) to form an enclosure; and b. aplurality of float members located within said enclosure (25) eachmember comprising a block of light weight, cellular, water-resistant,generally rigid plastic (25d) extending within and between two opposingside walls, each member further having spaced transverse boards (25c)resting thereon and supporting a longitudinal board (25a) whose endsrest on the side walls and are detachably connected thereto by matinghinge portions and removable pins.
 2. The float of claim 1 wherein saidplastic is cellular polystyrene.
 3. The float of claim 1 wherein thereis a cover portion readily detachably connected to said walls.
 4. thefloat of claim 1 wherein the float member has a longitudinal rib on theunder side of the cellular material.
 5. The float of claim 1 whereinsaid side walls are made of wood.
 6. The float of claim 1 wherein saidlongitudinal board is made of wood.